Technical Note

Mass Flow Sensors: Mass Flow versus Volumetric Flow and

Flow Rate Unit Conversions
1.0

Introduction

This technical note explains the following:

How mass flow is measured with volumetric units at
standard conditions.
How to convert between volumetric units at standard
conditions of 0 C, 1 atm, and nonstandard temperature
and pressure conditions.
How to convert between volumetric units at standard
conditions of 0 C, 1 atm, and an alternative standard
temperature and pressure conditions.
How to convert from volumetric units to mass units.
Honeywell mass flow sensors use a silicon sense die
construction known as a microbridge to measure the rate of
mass transfer in a fluid.
Mass flow is a dynamic mass/time unit measured in grams per
minute. It is common in the industry to specify mass flow in
terms of volumetric flow units at standard (reference)
conditions. By referencing a volumetric flow to a standard
temperature and pressure, an exact mass flow (g/min) can be
calculated from volumetric flow.
The temperature and pressure reference conditions of the
volumetric unit do not imply nor do they require the pressure
and temperature conditions of the measured fluid to be the
same; they are simply part of the volumetric unit that is
required to specify mass from a measured volume.
Honeywell mass flow sensors are generally specified as having
volumetric flow units at standard reference conditions of 0C
and 1 atm. This is indicated on volumetric units with the "S"
prefix. For example:
SCCM

"Standard Cubic Centimeters (per) Minute"

Reference Conditions: 0 C, 1 atm

SLPM

"Standard Liters (per) Minute"

Reference Conditions: 0 C, 1 atm

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If a certain application requires nonstandard reference

conditions, the units will be specified in the device datasheet
without the S prefix and the reference conditions will be
called out. The @ symbol will be used to indicate the
volumetric unit reference conditions for temperature and flow.
For example:
CCM @ 21C, 101.325 kPa
LPM @ 20 C, 1013.25 mbar
When designing an application around a mass flow sensor, it is
critical to use consistent reference conditions for volumetric
units throughout the system. There is no industry standard for
the reference conditions indicated by SCCM or SLPM, they
must be explicitly determined.
Consider a Honeywell mass flow sensor which has output
calibrated for a full scale of 1000 SCCM. If this sensor is used
in a system with a mass flow controller that has a Full Scale of
1000 SCCM (defined by the manufacturer as using a reference
condition of 25C, 1 atm), then without converting units, the
system error will be more than 9% of reading.
Rather, the mass flow controller output should be converted to
Honeywell Standard SCCM by scaling the output, or the
sensor output could be converted to CCM @ 25 C, 1 atm by
using the inverse scale factor, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Mass Flow Controller Setpoint versus Mass Flow
Sensor Output

Mass Flow versus Volumetric Flow and Flow Rate Unit

Conversions
2.0
Finding True Mass Flow (g/min) from Volumetric
Flow (Q) Definitions
P = Pressure
3
V = Volume (cm )
n = Number of moles of gas
R = Gas constant .0821 (liters atm/mole K) or
3
82.1 (cm atm/mole K)
T = Absolute temperature in Kelvin (K)
3
= Gas density (g/cm )
m = Mass in grams (g)
m = Mass flow (g/min)
^ = Mass flow (g/min)
m
Q = Volumetric flow
Qs = Volumetric flow at standard conditions (SCCM)
Equation 1
Using the Ideal Gas Law, PV = nRT, solve for:
Volume (V), or:
nRT
V=
P
Equation 2
Gas density is defined as:
=

m
v

Equation 3
Substitute Equation 1 into Equation 2 to redefine gas density:
mP
=
nRT
Equation 4
Mass flow is equal to density times volumetric flow rate:
m=Q

Equation 5
Redefine mass flow using gas density as derived from the
Ideal Gas Law. Substitute Equation 3 into Equation 4:
mP
Qx
m=
nRT
Example 1
3
Assume a volumetric flow rate of Q = 200 cm /min of nitrogen
(N2) at standard temperature of 0 C and 1 atm, and solve for
true mass flow (g/min):
Given:
3
Q = 200 cm /min
m = 28.0134 g in 1 mole of N2
n = 1 mole
P = 1 atm
3
R = 82.1 (cm 1 atm)/(mole K)
T = 273.15 K(0 C)
Answer:
m = 0.2498 (g/min)

2 Honeywell

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3.0
Finding Volumetric Flow (Q) from True Mass Flow
(g/min)
Microbridge products are specified in standard volumetric
flow (Qs) such as standard cubic centimeters per minute
(SCCM) or standard liters per minute (SLPM) which can be
translated into true mass flow as indicated above.
The microbridge sensor is a mass flow device rather than a
volumetric one. At a constant mass flow, the microbridge
device will give the same output even if there are temperature
or pressure changes. Because the microbridge sensor senses
mass flow, confusion may result when mass flow sensors are
used with volumetric devices, such as rotometers or pith-ball
indicators. Accurate mass flow calculations for volumetric
devices require consideration of both temperature and
pressure ranges.
At varying temperatures and pressures, these other volumetric
devices indicate different flow rates than those indicated by
microbridge sensors. Simple calculations can be used to show
the relationship between mass flow and nonstandard
volumetric flow.
An AWM3100V with a mass flow rate of 0.2498 g/min
(200 SCCM) at the same pressure of 1.0 atm but at a different
temperature, 25 C, has a 5 Vdc output voltage, indicating a
standard flow rate(Qs) of 200 SCCM. The rotometer, however,
would indicate a nonstandard volumetric flow rate, (Q).
Use Equation 5 to rearrange the formula for the volumetric flow
value to calculate the rotometer nonstandard volumetric flow
rate.
Equation 6
Q=

nRT
m
mP

Use the following given values to calculate volumetric flow rate

3
(Q). Multiply the R value by 1000 to convert the number to cm :
Given:
^
m = 0.2498 (g/min)
m = 28.0134 grams in 1 mole of N2
n = 1 mole
P = 1.000 atm
3
R = 82.1 (cm 1 atm)/(mole K)
T = 273.15 K(0 C) + 25 C = 298.15 K
3

Answer: Q = 218.26 cm /min

In this example, the standard volumetric flow rate (Qs) is
3
200 cm /min while nonstandard volumetric flow rate increases
3
to 218.26 cm /min.

Mass Flow versus Volumetric Flow and Flow Rate Unit

Conversions
This increase reflects the fact that as temperature increases,
gas expands, placing more distance between gas molecules.
More distance between molecules means less mass in a given
volume as temperature increases. If mass flow is kept
constant, and temperature increases, volume flow increases to
pass the same amount of mass (molecules) across the sensor
(see Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 2. Molecules at Cold Temperature: Mass Flow
Constant, Volumetric Flow Decreases

Mass
Flow

If mass flow is held constant over temperature and

pressure, then the following is true:
m s = mx

That is,
ms

mass flow, at standard conditions is equal to

mx

mass flow at nonstandard X conditions of temperature

and pressure.

Therefore,
mPx Qx = mPs
nRTs
nRTx
Equation 7: Solving for Qx yields:

Sensor

Figure 3. Molecules at Hot Temperature: Mass Flow

Constant, Volumetric Flow Increases

Mass
Flow
Sensor

4.0
Finding volumetric Flow (Qx) from Standard
Volumetric Flow (QS):

Qx = Qs

Equation 7
Equation 7 calculates volumetric flow (Qx) at X conditions
from volumetric flow (Qs) at reference conditions of 0 C and 1
atm.
Given:
Qs = 200 SCCM
Ps = 1 atm
Px = 1 atm
Ts = 273.15 K (0 C)
Tx = 298.15 K (25 C)
Answer:
Qx = Qs

Nonstandard volumetric flow can be found with standard

volumetric flow using the ratio of temperature and pressure at
referenced conditions (0 C, 1 atm) versus X conditions of
temperature and pressure.
This method of determining volumetric flow eliminates the use
of gas density values at reference conditions (0C, 1 atm)
versus X conditions of temperature and pressure.
FURTHER DEFINITIONS
Qx = Volumetric flow at X conditions of pressure and
temperature
Qs = Volumetric flow at standard conditions of 0 C and 1 atm
Tx = Temperature at X conditions in Kelvin (K)
Ts = Temperature at standard conditions in Kelvin (K)
Px = Pressure at X conditions in Kelvin (K)
Ps = Pressure at standard conditions in Kelvin (K)

3 Honeywell

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Ps Tx

Px Ts

Ps Tx

= 218.3 cm3/min
Px Ts

Mass Flow versus Volumetric Flow and Flow Rate Unit

Conversions
WARNING

WARNING

PERSONAL INJURY

MISUSE OF DOCUMENTATION

DO NOT USE these products as safety or emergency stop

devices or in any other application where failure of the
product could result in personal injury.
Failure to comply with these instructions could result in
death or serious injury.

The information presented in this technical note is for

reference only. DO NOT USE this document as a product
installation guide.
Complete installation, operation, and maintenance
information is provided in the instructions supplied with
each product.
Failure to comply with these instructions could result in
death or serious injury.

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defective materials and faulty workmanship. Honeywells
standard product warranty applies unless agreed to otherwise
by Honeywell in writing; please refer to your order
acknowledgement or consult your local sales office for specific
warranty details. If warranted goods are returned to Honeywell
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at its option, without charge those items it finds defective. The
foregoing is buyers sole remedy and is in lieu of all other
warranties, expressed or implied, including those of
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event shall Honeywell be liable for consequential, special,
or indirect damages.
While we provide application assistance personally, through
our literature and the Honeywell web site, it is up to the
customer to determine the suitability of the product in the
application.
Specifications may change without notice. The information we
supply is believed to be accurate and reliable as of this printing.
However, we assume no responsibility for its use.

SALES AND SERVICE

Honeywell serves its customers through a worldwide network
of sales offices, representatives and distributors. For
application assistance, current specifications, pricing or name
of the nearest Authorized Distributor, contact your local sales
office or:
E-mail: info.sc@honeywell.com
Internet: sensing.honeywell.com
Phone and Fax:
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+65 6355-2828
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Golden Valley, MN 55422
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008043-2-EN
November 2012
Copyright 2012 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.